Method of the automatic processing of paper stocks



H. BIDWELL June 11, 1968 METHOD OF THE AUTOMATIC PROCESSING OF PAPERSTOCKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 11, 1963 INVENTOR. HOWARD BIDWELLATTORNEY H. BIDWELL June 11, I968 METHOD OF THE AUTOMATIC PROCESSING OFPAPER STOCKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 11, 1963 INVENTOR HOWARDBIDWELL a awn? ('1 ATTORNEY.

H. BIDWELL June 11, 1968 METHOD OF THE AUTOMATIC PROCESSING OF PAPERSTOCKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 001;. ll 1963 INVENTOR.

HOWARD BIDWELL wvz (I ATTORNEY.

June 11, 1968 H. BIDWELL 3,387,794

METHOD OF THE AUTOMATIC PROCESSING OF PAPER STOCKS Filed Oct. 11, 1963 4Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

HOWARD BIDWELL ATTORNEY.

3,387,794 METHQD F THE AUTOMATIC PRGCESSING OF PAPER STOCKS HowardBidweil, Granby, Mass, assignor of fifty percent to Rachel Bidwell,Granby, Mass. Continuatian-in-part of application Ser. No. 118,756, May5, 1961. This application (let. 11, 1963, Set No. 315,589

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application,Ser. No. 118,756, filed May 5, 1961, now Patent No. 3,227,606.

The present invention relates generally to new and useful structuralrefinements in apparatus for, and methods for, the processing of organicfiberous materials, such as may be used in paper stocks, and moreparticularly aims to provide apparatus and methods for automaticallycontrolling various instrumentalities as parts of an integrated paperstock preparation system, all contributing to the attainment of a rapidconversion of the fiber characteristic of the stock from one of highresistance to separation in the dry state to one of low or nearly nilresistance to separation in the saturated state, and obtaining aseparation and removal of the more saturated fibers from the aggregateto a waterborne stock slurry comprising a continuously blended flowstream, having a constant fiberto-liquid ratio density, and allowing apreconditioningblending of the slurry for effecting an improved feedingto the refiner and further allowing a refining of the blended slurry ina continuous flow to an accepted stock condition of a constant stockviscosity.

Stated in broadest terms, the teaching hereof shows an arrangement ofapparatus and a sequence of steps employing same in the preparation ofstock which provides for the maintenance of conditions of constantdensity and constant blending to contribute to the constant viscosity ofthe end product and exploiting the heretofore unknown and unappreciatedfact that by the utilization of granular surfaces in certain of theinstrumentalities of the arrangement and/or system a consistently highfreeness for a given tensile value is obtainable. Insofar as tensile isconcerned, for a given standard of fiber development, papermakingequipment can now be operated at higher running speeds for the salientreason that by the teachings hereof, the heretofore aggravating problemsencountered in dealing with slow stock are alleviated, if not totallyeliminated.

The invention teaches methods directed to tempering, altering andchanging the characteristics of the fibers of stocks, preliminary to theprocessing thereof, wherefor the fibers are more readily and rapidlyseparated to an individualized state and directed further to theprocessing of the so-readied stock fibers by novel and advantageousmethods and means wherewith the separated and fibrillated fibers areblended into a flowable slurry preparatory to refining to the desiredfiber development accepted state for the conventional sheeting at thewet end of a papermaking machine.

The structural part of this invention shows and describes apparatusembodying interrelated components each having features of constructionand arrangements of parts contributing to the effecting of the steps inthe system, all as exemplified in this disclosure and supporting claims.

The methods disclosed in this invention teaches a process consisting ofa plural number of steps in a predetermined order, said steps beinginterrelated as to each other, all as defined below appendedspecification and subjoined claims.

In general, the several items of apparatus in this invention are kindredto the apparatus for aiding and improving the pulping and refining ofpaper stocks through ates Patent 0 Patented June 11, 1968 meansemploying granular surfaced working faces and processing elements oftypes such as are exemplified in my Patents No. 2,912,174 of Nov. 10,1959, No. 2,936,- 128 of May 10, 1960, No. 3,058,678 of Oct. 16, 1962,No. 3,116,208 of Dec. 31, 1963 and No. 3,193,206 of July 6, 1965, and inmy copending application Ser. No. 93,272, filed Feb. 28, 1961 and nowabandoned.

The existing practice in the trade, as exemplified by the known priorart, conventionally entails the use of large amounts of energy in theform of power applied to the stock for the purpose of distintegrating,cutting and hydrating the stock during the pulping, beating and refiningoperations of conventional processing all without preconditioning of anykind, and with the omnipresent disadvantage that the fibers, being in adry state, offer unfavorable physical characteristics as respects theapplication of power or energy in connection with their conditioning,and further offer, in maximum degree, resistance to fiber separationwith the result that the very fiber processing means employed servedeleteriously to damage and weaken the fibers.

The individualizing of fibers has never been accomplishedconventionally, much less in a sO-called preconditioning phase as heretaught, wherefor the normally pulped stock is constituted byunindividualized fibers fed to the refining equipment, which fibers willhave been cut, brushed, bruised, broomed, hydrated, and otherwisedamaged.

In contradistinction, I have devised novel means and methods wherebythese difficulties and objections are overcome by way of completelyeliminating the disintegration and cutting phases with most standardstock materials according to procedures which provide adequatepreconditioning means for receiving most standard sized shipping balesand bundles of stock and reducing same into a fiowable slurrypreparatory to the application of power in the refining phase.

It is first to be noted that my invention. provides means and methods inan integrated automated system of receiving at a preconditioner any ofthe most standard forms of raw dry fibrous aggregate as delivered by anautomatically-controlled conveyor and a supply of liquid as delivered byan automatically-controlled delivery conduit, said deliveries to thepreconditioner for the preconditioning phase being effected under thesurveillance of a cooperant fiber-to-liquid ratio-governing devicesincorporated as component parts thereof for reducing the aggregate to acontinuously-free-fiowing slurry stream having a constant density of apredetermined value according to the regulation of the ratio-governingdevices, blending and conditioning the fibers to what is best identifiedas an individualized state free of any cutting or like detrimentaleffects while the so-individualized fibers are saturated in apre-conditioning phase, and pre-conditioning and blending the sosaturated material to a degree sufiicient to resist cutting actionduring the subsequent refining phase wherein the material is refined toan accepted stock condition, with cooperant automatic feed controllingdevices for preventing refiner overloading and the glazing and loadingof the granular-surfaced processing surfaces of the refiner as well asregulating and controlling the refiner energy input rate to apredetermined value, all for the purpose of maintaining uniformity inaccepted stocks.

Without intending to place undue limitations upon the scope of theinvention, beyond what may be required by the state of the prior art,the particular embodiments exemplified herein may be briefly describedas embracing the concept of means and methods for controlling the inseriatim delivery of bundles of the air-dry raw stock aggregate with thebundles being spaced along a suitably operated and automaticallycontrolled conveyor means which is interconnected to and integratedcontrolwise with a liquid supply means in manner such as to assure, innormal operation, a delivery of a specified unit by weight of stockfurnish aggregate with each delivery of a specified unit volume ofliquid for achieving a free-flowing slurry of constant and continuousflow with a constant density and consistency, whereby is obtainedimproved operation of the refiners and other equipments used in thepulping, refining, beating, fiberizing and fibrillating so inherent inthe processing of organic and other forms of fibrous materials inpassage from the raw, unbeaten state to an accepted stock. conditionpreliminary to employment in Fourdrinier, cylinder, and other types ofpapermaking and/ or paper-product-making machines, and further wherebyis allowed the reuse of white water flowing from the papermaking and/ orpaper-product-makin-g machine operation properly blended with adequatequantities of fresh makeup water if same proves to be needed.

The above elucidated concept has been embodied into a consolidated,integrated, unitary, continuous, automated system incorporating thevarious phases of paper stock preparing and refining inherent in dry,raw aggregate reduction, and so organized as to provide stock of anaccepted condition (i.e. with a predetermined constant stock viscosityvalue).

Contributing to the broad purpose, among the objects of the inventionare to provide means for automatically obtaining and maintaining apredetermined degree of accepted stock. condition, as represented inMullen, tensile, and other fiber characteristic values, by theregulating of each of a plurality of interrelated systeminstrumentalities for etfectuating changes in feed flow, recycling, andregulating of the blending and reblending of the moistened portions offreshly-loosened aggregate resulting from and obtained through thepreconditioning means disclosed in said parent application, Ser. No.118,755, now Patent No. 3,227,606, operative as herein taught incombination and in conjunction with various mechanisms novelly arrangedso as to offer slurries more homogeneous than have been heretoforeobtainable by the known and conventional devices, with the advantageousfeature that, in the case of a given slurry, a portion thereof may bediverted for processing to an accepted stock condition and a remainingportion thereof may be diverted for blending with fresh raw stockmaterial and make-up raw water and/or white water, all so as to allow acontinuous uniform flow of a predetermined density ratio of air-dryfibers to liquid according to a desired degree of fiber development ofthe slurry fibers for meeting desired values of fiber freeness,viscosity, Mullen, tensile strength, and the like.

It is a salient object hereof to teach methods and means for expandingthe field of potential resources represented in commonly availablematerials by exploiting the phenomenal effects which granular-surfacedprocessing surfaces which impart to fibers which are properlypreconditioned, as revealed in accepted stocks of my production offeringconsistently high freeness-to-tensile strength ratios, and asdemonstrated by other stocks of my production as being ca abie of beingcarried to superstrong fiber development values, beyond any rangerealizable with any other means, and yet still showing relatively highfreeness values, and as particularly evidenced in the processing of lowgrade substances and materials, normally considered as waste, but nowproven to be reclaimable under properly controlled conditions so as tootter relatively strong bonding characteristics without the benefit ofadditives of any kind, this last representing an exciting potential inconnection with certain special fields of interest, as for example wellboard, packing containers, and the like.

Another object hereof is to provide means of the character indicatedwhcrewith are reclaimable such normally non adhesive materials as barks,slash and the leafy portions of vegetable growths, constituting in factthe major portion of available fiber sources which materials arenotoriously wasted by presently known techniques and practices due to alack of recognition or appreciation of the potentialities thererepresented and a lack of adequate means for converting such materialsinto products worthy of recognition. These materials, by the teachingshereof, are easily rcclaimable, and incidentally, are readilycouvertible into hard and dense compacts permitting impressivereductions in transportation costs.

The invention possesses objects and features which are of advantage inrelations other than the herein disclosed preferred embodiments whichare presented by way of exemplifications, it being appreciated that theinvention is susceptible of incorporation in other structurally modifiedforms coming equally within the scope of the claims hereof, even whenoperated in conjunction with conventional types of apparatus to meet anyspecial condition when so required.

Numerous other objects and advantages will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the following description of preferredembodiments of the invention taken together with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

PK 1 is a schematic flow diagram showing a simplified form ofarrangement of structures embodying the teaching of an integratedautomatically-controlled continuouslyoperated paper stockpreconditioning/blending/refining system for maintaining constantfactors of stock density and uniformity in blending to the end ofachieving ac cepted stock of uniform constant viscosity of apredetermined Mullen, tensile, freeness and other fiber developmentvalues;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of certain ofthe instrumentalitics shown in FIG. 1, with parts being broken away, andbeing representative of a minimum of apparatus requisite for a paperstock. processing system for accommodating some average and normalrequirements, it bein. noted that most of the details of theinterconnecting and control means are herein omitted in order to renderthe showing more easily readable;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a form of safety stop serving toprevent the opposed moving and stationary members from making actualcontact with each other during changes in clearance adjustments;

FIG. 4 is a schematic flow diagram, similar to that illustrated in FIG.1, and showing another arrangement of structures incorporating one ormore auxiliary apparatuses as component parts of an integratedautomaticallycontrolled system of fiber development to produce anaccepted stock condition according to a particular standard orstandards, such as Mullen and other values, in a corn tinuous flownon-retention system; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are enlarged fragmentary side elevational views ofmodified forms of the blending units shown in the arrangements of FIGS.1 and 4 with parts being broken away.

In the following description and in the appended claims, variouscomponents and details thereof will be identified by specific names forpurposes of convenience. Such specific terms and expressions areemployed in a generic and descriptive sense only. They are not intendedto exclude any reasonable equivalents of the features shown anddescribed or portions thereof.

With reference first to FIG. 1 of the drawings, which illustrates atypical and preferred embodiment of the invention for the purpose ofdisclosure and forms a part of this specification, I have shown anendless conveyor 2 upon the upper run of which opened bales of aggregatematerial 4 to be processed are placed in spaced relation, wherebypredetermined quantities by weight of air-dry raw stock may be chargedin seriatim into a preconditioncr 6, strategically positioned adjacentand beneath the conveyor discharge end.

Such aggregate discharge will be at a rate of speed according to whatthe preconditioner will successfully handle with a given quantity offiuent material or liquid, and according also to the passage into saidpreconditioner of a predetermined quantity of that liquid as it isdelivered from a suitable source of supply via a conduit 8 having adischarge terminal communicating with the preconditioner, according tocontrol means which shall include a liquid meter of suitable designequipped with adequate and suitable selective impulse-contactprogramming device or devices disposed in the conduit.

Said liquid meter will incorporate a cooperant impulse type registerdevice, subsequently to be identified, for initiating the delivery of apredetermined unit quantity of aggregate in synchronisrn with thepassage of a predetermined quantity of liquid.

Preconditioner 6 will be understood to comprise a preconditioning fibersaturator of a type, such as exemplified in my parent application, Ser.No. 118,756, wherefore a detailed explanation thereof, beyond that inthe next succeeding paragraphs, is deemed unnecessary for the purposesof this disclosure.

Said preconditioner, shown fragmentarily in FIG. 2, provides apparatusfor preconditioning the raw air-dry stock preliminary to itsintroduction into cooperant apparatus for the fulfillment of subsequentpulp preparation procedures and more particularly it effects thereduction of dry, raw, fibrous aggregate of all types to a fiowablestock in manner such that the fibrous characteristic of the stock,whatever its nature, is rapidly transformed from a rigid, stiff,unyielding condition, to a tempered condition in which the fibers arecharacteried by their softness, pliability and toughness, it beingdemonstrated that tempered fibers are more resistant to cutting andreduction of their length than conventionally processed fibers and canbe readily separated into individual fibers and fibrillated, bywater-borne flow contact with and impingement against granular surfaces.

As a significant contribution to the art, I have determined thatsuperior reduction of a dry, raw, fibrous material can be obtained bymoisture-penetrating or tempering a portion of the aggregate andcontinuously separating the-so-tempered or penetrated portion of theaggregate from the remainder thereof.

Accordingly, preconditioner 6 will be noted to comprise anupwardly-opening chamber 18 to permit the introduction thereinto ofunits of raw paper stock from the conveyor. Communicating with thechamber are an inlet opening 2% connected to conduit 8 and an exitopening 22 for discharging Water-borne stock therefrom through a conduit24.

Disposed within the chamber are a plurality of cylindrical rolls 26,mounted as shown in a side-by-side spaced relation with the axes thereofin parallelism, and each formed of a porous or moisturepervious, coarse,granular material to present a granular outermost periphery and mountedon a tubular shaft 25 provided with a plurality of radially-extendingperforations for the forcement of a fluid through said perforations andthrough the porous granular material for discharge radially from theouter periphery of the roll and blending with the fluid already withinthe preconditioner.

As shown in FIG. 1, low-pressure steam may be admitted to the shafts ofthe intermediate rolls as by suitable piping connected thereto and to asuitable supply source, and the fluent material may be admitted to theshafts of the outermost rolls as by suitable piping 32 connected theretoand to conduit 8.

If desired, steam may be employed with all of the rolls 26, instead ofonly the intermediate rolls, as shown in FIG. 1, and as shown in FIG. 2,the piping 32 may lead to each of the shafts, in which instance, nosteam is employed.

The essential point is that under automatic or manually controlledmeans, such as valvings 31 and 33, there may be bled a certain portionof the incoming white Watermakeup water via piping 32 and valve 33 tothe rolls with other fluid or fluid mixtures such as steam being bledvia piping 3t and valve 3-1 to the rolls, as desired, the steam orliquid so introduced to the rolls passing through the apertured shaftsand radially-outwardly through the porous material of the rolls fordischarge outwardly from the roll surfaces. Accordingly, such r-olls maybe delineated as granular-surfaced vapor-fluid-emitting rolls, and maybe variously interconnected to use either liquid or steam or bothsimultaneously, or other fluid solutions, steam, I Eaving determined,being essential only for relatively hard bers.

Shafts 28 will be observed to extend through suitably aligned openingsin the opposite side walls of the chamber and to be journalled insuitable bearings for rotation by any conventional means, not shown,through a preconditioner motor 29 to which the shafts are drivinglyconnected.

Preferentially, the rolls will all rotate in the same direction,counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 1, so as to present their upperascending quadrants moving toward the inlet opening.

Preferentially, the rolls are rotated at relatively slow speeds with thegreatest speed of rotation being imparted to the roll, at the right endof the apparatus as viewed in FIG. 1, adjacent the discharge end, inorder that, in operation, the major portion of the vapor-moisturepenetrated aggregate will be carried toward the first roll adjacentinlet 26. By such arrangement, the slowest moving roll acts as an anvilagainst which the major portion of the vapor-moisture-penetrated stockis carried and introduced to the fluid flowing into the chamber fromconduit 8 and to the blending fluid from a conduit 54, subsequently tobe identified.

The chamber contour is preferably shaped with outermost walls whichsubstantially encapsulate the rolls wherefore, as the stock is chargedthereinto, it is continually forced against and over the rolls so as tobe subjected to the action now to be described.

The surfaces of the rolls may be deeply scored or contoured to provideefficient fiber separation and motivation with a minimum damage orbreakage of the individual fibers as the aggregate is tumbled, mauled,revolved and otherwise agitated into a state of its mush from contactwith the upper surfaces of the rolls and in the presence of the combinedstreams of blending slurry, makeup fluids and vapor-fluid-admittingrolls.

That is, in operation, the dry fibrous aggregate, charged or introducedinto the chamber through its top opening, comes to rest directly uponthe upper surfaces of the granular-surfaced rolls. Fluid and/orlow-pressure steam is introduced into the tubular shafts undersufficient pressure as to be emitted radially from the surfaces of therolls. The steam rapidly penetrates the fibers of the stock aggregatecontiguous the roll surfaces. The steam tempers the fibers, in effect,paving the way for more rapid saturation when the stock comes intocontact with fluid introduced into the vessel through the conduits.

The effect is to separate the tempered portions of the fibrous aggregatewith a minimum of fiber damage.

The tempering effect serves by rendering the fibers more pliable, moreresistant to cutting actions, possessive of increased tensile strength,and more easily handled, wherefore is allowed a more rapid rate ofsaturation when the stock comes into contact with the fluid introducedinto the chamber through conduit 8. That is, the more saturated, andconcomitantly, more tempered portions are readily separable from theremainder of the fibrous aggregate composed of the untempered fibrousmass, and all with a minimum of fiber damage.

Continued rotation of the granular-surfaced, vapormoisture-emittingrolls serves further to separate the tem pered fibers to anindividualized state, without their suffering from any cutting action orother detrimental effects, and to transport same into the fluid flowingbelow the rolls in a state of wettability wherefor they quickly becomemoisture-saturated, and to advance the waterborne pulp under conditionsof turbulence toward outlet 22 and conduit 24 via which the conditionedpulp may be introduced to cooperant instrumentation for carrying outsubsequent phases in the pulp-making process.

The degree of tempering may be controlled according to the rate of speedof delivery of the air-dry stock and fluid to the preconditioner, therate of rotative speed imparted to the rolls, the amount ofvapor-emission through the rolls, and other factors hereinafter to beidentified.

Within the limitations that all opposed working surfaces be suflicientlyspaced from each other to avoid cutting of the fibers, the relativeposition and spacing of the rolls to each other and of the rolls to thestators may be varied, so as better to control the rate or volume offlow of the stock in conformity with the nature of the aggregate beingpreconditioned.

Liquid meter serves to measure the fiow of incoming liquid, admitted tothe stock system via conduit 8, by virtue of its integration with aselective electrical impulsetype programming mechanism 36 of suitabledesign'which is operated by and calibrated to the liquid meter,wherewith the gallonage of fluent material passing through conduit 8 maybe controlled in the respect that a predetermined quantity of fluentmaterial may be passed therethrough and the rate respective to thesystem as a whole may be controlled.

The programming mechanism is operative to close an electricalprogramming circuit 38 upon the passage of a predetermined quantity ofliquid through liquid meter 10, which closing action serves to actuate anormally-open magnetic circuit controller switch 4% to closed positionby means of an energized magnetic coil 42 connected in the programmingcircuit. The circuit controller switch, thus energized, actuates a gearhead low output speed conveyor motor 44 connected in an electricalconveyor motor circuit 46 therewith conveyor 2 is motivated forachieving the delivery of the unit quantities of raw aggregate 4 topreconditioner 6t Conveyor motor circuit 46 is preferably energized byDC current through a rectifier with selective speed variations beingattainable by means of an adjustable rheostat 27 for suitablesynchronization with other flow rate adjustments such as fluid flowrate. Control valve 23 adjusts the fluid flow rate to approximately thecapacity of the processing system with a reasonable excess that isfurther controlled and limited by a flow rate valve 72, subsequently tobe identified. Rheostat 27 and fluid control valve 23 serve as means forregulating the conveyor speed and liquid flow rate to approximate thesystem capacity and thereby avoid erratic and hunting action.

Delivery of a charge to preconditioner 6 etfectuates a momentary openingof a normally-closed trip switch 48 so as to open programming circuit 33and conveyor motor circuit 46 by effecting a deenergization of magneticcoil 42 of circuit controller switch 40, thereby momentarily stoppingconveyor 2 upon the delivery of each unit quantity of air-dry stock tothe preconditioner, with the conveyor motor circuit being reenergizedtherefollowing due to the passage of a suceeding measured unit quantityof liquid through liquid meter 10 in conduit 8, wherewith the cycle isrepeated. The repetitive cycle continues so long as units of air-drystock are delivered via the conveyor and units of fluent material aredelivered via the conduit.

It is to be understood that white water from the wet end of the papermaking machine is passed via a conduit 41 to a collecting tank 43 whereit is collected and mixed with a charge of fresh makeup water leadingthereto via conduit 45, which conduit is provided with a floatcontrolled valve 47 so that all available White water is first used andis made up as necessary with fresh water, the mixture being pumpedtherefrom by means of pump 49 through conduit 8. Tank 43 may be providedwith a drain 51, as is common.

Conceivably, only fresh makeup water from a source through conduit maybe pumped through conduit 8,

o 0 although preferentially, though not obligatorily, white water willbe used whenever possible.

With a predetermined sufficiency of properly-proportioned quantities ofair-dry stock and liquid having been introduced to the preconditionerand the to-be-described components of the system therefollowing, Iestablish a suitable normal flow volume from preconditioner 6 throughconduit 24 for discharge into a stock chest reservoir 5% of a blendingunit 52.

Blending unit 52 is of a design serving to break up coarse aggregateparticles delivered thereto from the preconditioner via the reservoirpreliminary to delivery from the blending unit of a continuous supply ofa blending flow in a retrograde or return movement to the preconditionervia a blending flow conduit 54.

Admission of liquid from conduit 8 to the preconditioner and the chargeof fresh aggregate thereinto from conveyor 2, will be observed to be insynchronism according to the dictates of the activated one of aplurality of verticallyaligned automatic level control signal devices56, 57 and 58 arranged in spaced relation relative to the inner wall ofthe reservoir according to a modulating valve 68, subsequently to bereferred to, wherefor a continuous supply of constant density stockslurry is assured of discharge from the preconditioner in apredetermined ratio of air dry stock-todiquid, all according toprogrammed impulses emanating from programming device 36, the impulsebeing preferentially programmed so as to be operative so long asconveyor 2 is kept loaded with bundles of properlyweighted raw stock inspaced relation therealong preparatory to charge to the preconditioner.

According to the phase of the system so far delineated, I am ablecontinuously to moisten the raw aggregate within the preconditioner andto blend same with freshly loosened and freed raw aggregate and tocontinue to saturate same while in transit to and within reservoir 50,with blending unit 52 allowing sufiicient recycling of the stock forachieving a uniform constant density thereof and still further allowingthe delivery of a quantity of blending flow from blending flow conduit54 to a refiner 60 via a blending feed conduit 62 intersecting theblending flow conduit intermediate its terminals.

Blending feed conduit 62 may be suitably valved as to maintain acontinuous surplus flow therein to stock chest reservoir 50 or topreconditioner 6, as desired, via a return conduit 64, said valvingbeing hereinafter referred to in connection with a detailed descriptionof refiner 60.

Blending unit 52 will be of a design to maintain an adequate swirlwithin its adjoining cooperant stock chest reservoir for effectuating aproper agitation and blending of its contained material including theraw aggregate fiberous particles being freshly supplied thereto frompreconditioner 6 and for passing such blend between thegranular-surfaced components of the blending unit, as will be defined,all the while maintaining an adequate flow volume therefrom, not only asdictated by the requirements of the preconditioner which it feeds so asto allow a consistent blending thereat, but also as dictated by theprocessing demands of refiner 60, likewise fed thereby with a suflicieutflow volume of Well blended stock, all in the attainment of a constantand continuous operation producing a uniform accepted stock of aconstant viscosity.

To meet the stock flow capacity and demand or rate of flow, as requiredby refiner 60, a control valve 66 may be disposed in blending feedconduit 62 for regulating the flow volume, according to the desired andnecessary fiow rate of both air dry raw stock and liquid flow.

Modulating valve 68, previously referred to, is identified as acontroller, and is connected at one side via suitable circuitry 70 withconduit 8, and circuitry 71 with preconditioner motor 29, with a flowrate valve 72 disposed within said circuitry 70, and is connected at itsother side via conduits '76, 77 and 78 with level control impulse signaldevices 56, S7 and 58 respectively in stock chest reservoir 50.

As one of the signal devices is activated, i.e. device 58 sensing arequirement for an increased flow, device 56 sensing a requirement fordecreased flow, or device 57 sensing a mean as respects flow, theintelligence is delivered to modulating valve 68 in the form of signalsemanating from the thus activated one of the devices.

Modulating valve 68, so activated, effectuates activation of flow ratevalve 72 into an opened or closed position wherewith an accordinglyincreased or decreased flow of liquid through conduit 8 to thepreconditioner and a concomitant rate of delivery by conveyor 2 ofair-dry raw stock are achieved.

With particular reference now to FIG. 2, blending unit 52 is shown,fragmentarily, as comprising a fibrous material processing apparatusinclusive of a driving motor 8:? suitably secured to the equipment as byhanging to preclude end play of its motor shaft 82 and a flywheel 84suitably keyed to the shaft for taking any thrust loads imposed duringoperational use.

"I he flywheel will be provided with an uppermost planar face for themounting thereupon and driving thereby of a processing rotor 86 securedto said flywheel as by a centrally-located granular-faced washer 88 andcap screw 99, said screw being in threaded engagement with the motorshaft to maintain the motor/ shaft/flywheel/ processing rotor integrityin conventional manner.

Preferentially, processing rotor 86 is comprised of a specially preparedvitrified or other suitable type of bonded structure of aluminum oxide,or silicon carbide and/ or other appropriate granular composition,prepared and finished as exemplified in my copending application, Ser.No. 93,272, and bonded and secured in its lowermost area to a flangedmetallic mounting member 92 with suitable reinforcement means forinsuring against heavy working loads or other stresses, in accordancewith the teachings of my copending application, Ser. No. 89,423, newPatent No. 3,193,206, and by means of a plurality of strategically-locatd flywheel drive pins M interconnecting and holding stationary as toeach other the said mounting member and flywheel.

Flywheel 84 is so configured as to present an upwardlyfacing outermostannular peripheral recess, upon the horizontally-disposed face of whicha granular-surfaced annular processing ring 96, which may comprise aunitary member or a plurality of fitted-together arcuate segments, isfixedly mounted.

Said processing ring may be prepared and finished in accordance with theexemplification in said application, Ser. No. 93,272, and may be bondedto the flywheel, as taught in said application, Ser. No. 89,423, nowPatent No. 3,193,206.

A flywheel housing 98 will encase the flywheel in conventionalcircumscribing manner, will have a suitablylocated discharge outlet 1%for connection to blending flow conduit 54, and will be securable to aflange 102 of driving motor 30 as by mounting lugs 104 and cap screws106, in known manner.

A lower stator casing 110 of suitable construction, located upwardly ofhousing 98, is adjustably secured reintive thereto as by a plurality ofperipherally-arranged clamp bolts 112 and nuts 113 threadedly engagedtherewith, and will circumscribe in enclosing manner an annulargranular-surfaced lower stator H4, which stator may be bonded to itscasing by any suitable bonding means and will be concentrically arrangedas to processing rotor 86 to allow the passage of stock therebetween andwith its lowermost horizontallydisposed planar face being positioned inspaced relationship with the oppositely-facing uppermosthorizontally-disposed planar face of ring 96-, also to allow the passageof stock therebetween.

A compressible gasket 115 may be disposed between casing 110 and housing93 to provide a water-tight seal therebetween.

An upper stator casing 116 of suitable construction, located upwardly oflower casing 110, is adjustably secured relative thereto as by aplurality of peripherally-arranged clamp bolts 118 with cooperant nuts119, and circumscribes in enclosing manner an annular granular-surfacedupper stator 120, which stator may be bonded to its respective casing byany suitable bonding means and will be concentrically arranged as tolower stator 114 and processing rotor 86 with appropriate spacingstherebetween for the passage of stock therethrough.

Said upper and lower stators may be prepared and finished in accordancewith the teachings of my application, Ser. No. 93,272, to provide theall-important granular-surfaced processing faces, so vitally essentialto the instant invention, the dimensions and contourings of the saidfaces being proportioned as to each other to satisfy the dictates ofanticipated performance.

As aforesaid, the upper and lower stators are strategically positionedas to each other so as to allow a clearance between their confrontingsurfaces, which clearance may be varied as will appear.

The lowermost downwardly-facing face of the upper stator will have anannular downwardly-facing peripheral recess for the seating of acompressible gasket 122, formed of sponge rubber or like material, inmanner so as to be sandwiched between the lower and upper stators forfunctioning as a compensating medium for the above referred tovariations in rotor spacing.

Clearance adjustments will normally be effected first, by an adjusting(loosening or tightening) of bolts 112, wherewith is attained anadjusted spacing between processing rotor 86 and lower stator 114 so asto accommodate a desired flow rate, and second, by an adjusting(loosening or tightening) of bolts 118, wherewith is attained anadjusted spacing between the upper and lower stators accordin to thedegree of blending desired.

It is to be mentioned that the precise relationship of blending unit andreservoir shown is merely illustrative, they being otherwise relatableto each other. For example, the blending unit may be disposed upon ahorizontal axis or even in a vertically inverted position, as in theinstance of blending a multiplicity of already processed stocks to anaccepted or nearly accepted stock condition for a multistock furnishpreparatory to delivery to a paper making machine, by any suitable typeof conventional stock chest connections with suitable auxiliary chestagitation being provided. Conceivably, a duplex set of blending chestswith supporting blending apparatus may be used for certain multi-stockfurnish requirements.

Furthermore, reservoir 50, upwardly of blending unit 52, may beindependently supported or may be connected thereto with the blendingunit and motor 8'!) being suspended therefrom via an annular taperedflanged cone outlet 124 or equivalent interconnecting medium.

The intensity of the reservoir swirl and agitation, as induced by thecooperating blending unit, will vary in direct ratio with the dimensionsof the interconnecting orifice therebetween, which dimensions may bevaried to meet any particular stock density as by the insertion intothat orifice of an orifice plate (not shown) having an openingtherethrough of a size such as to be most suitable for achieving thespecifically desired degree of swirl and agitation and other stockmovements within the reservoir.

As a further refinement, where an extremely high flow rate of dischargefrom the blending unit is desired, the vertical dimension of the lowerstator may be decreased so as to allow a larger unrestricted flowbetween the operating surfaces of the flywheel and lower stator.

As concerns fiber blending, preliminary fiber development and stockvolume flow, myriad effects may be achieved with a variety of types ofcontouring of the granular surfaced processing faces of the flywheel,processing rotor, and upper and iower stators, wherewith it is possibleto meet any particular type of stock requirement or condition, and toinduce or retard flow, or to achieve a combination of induced andretarded flow, as may be essential for a given purpose.

That is to say, the peripheral surface of the upper portion of theprocessing rotor and the lower portion of the upper stator may beprovided with similar channels or contours which are inclined indirections such that rotation of the processing rotor enhances theadvance of the stock along certain contours or channels while the outerside portions of the processing rotor and the lower stator may beprovided with other channels or contours which are inclined in reversedirections to those of the upper portion of the processing rotor andupper stator to thereby retard the flow of stock.

The type of contouring employed on the upper stator will depend on thestatic head value normally intended to be imposed on its granularsurfaced areas. In processing chemical pulps having low and easy beatingcharacteristics, such. as some of the sulphite and soda pulps, inducedflow contouring of all granular surfaces may be employed. For harderlrraft chemical pulps having a higher beating index, a more desirablecombination of induced flow and retarded flow contouring may be combinedin manner whereby the lowermost face of the upper stator, opposing theface of processing rotor 86, may be contoured for effecting a retardedflow while the opposing surface of the upper stator may be contoured foreffecting induced flow.

Further, the perimetral granular-surfaced face of upper stator 120 maybe contoured for effecting induced flow while the opposedgranular-surfaced bore inwardly-facing wall lower stator 114- may becontoured for effecting retarded flow.

Likewise, the granular surfaced ring 96 bonded to flywheel 84 may becontoured for effecting induced flow, while the opposed granularsurfaced face of lower stator 114 may be contoured for effectingretarded flow.

For tougher, high beating index fibers, such as those of the hair seedfamily, and including the general run of rag stocks, cotton linters, andflax fibers, all granular surfaced faces of the processing elementshaving direct fiber contact may be of the retarded flow type.

The essential point is that any combination of contouring effects iseasily attainable herewith, it being a-ppreciated that the type offibers being processed will govern the type of granular surfaces of theprocessing elements, their arrangement and relationship with each other,and the type and nature of the contouring employed for establishingcertain definite stock flow characteristics.

It is advantageous that the blending unit be fitted withgranular-surfaced elements so contoured as to create fl-owcharacteristics consistent with the requirements of refiner 60, exceptin instances where special results may be desired or a more extensivesystem of additional auxiliary apparatus may be involved.

When motor 86 is of the variable speed type, a wider range of result isallowable by virtue of the variances thus permitted.

The discharge volume rate of the blending unit will be in directrelationship with the type of contouring employed or incorporated in thegranular surfaced processing elements with which the equipment isfitted.

Refiner 60, as shown in FIG. 2, is one form of refiner that includesgranular surfaced rotor and stator elements arranged similar to thatshown in my Patent No. 3,058,678, and utilizes the principle of freeflowing a water-borne paper stock over unopposed granular surfacedprocessing surfaces, as taught in my Patents No. 2,912,174 and No.2,936,128, for accomplishing objectives beyond the scope of each of saidpatents, by exploiting the free flow as a means for automaticallycontrolling the volume of inlet feed of stock entering the refiner tomatch some predetermined energy input rate and viscosity value at therefiner discharge point.

The refiner includes a suitable driving motor 130, the frame of whichhas a suitable mounting flange 132 for mounting the processingcomponents superimposed upon the flange and secured by cap screws 134and lugs 136. Motor 13% has a suitably extended shaft 138 on which isstationarily fixed a stepped flywheel 140 to the upwardlyfacingperipherally-located step of which is suitably bonded anannular-granular-surfaced processing ring 142. The flywheel is furtherprovided with a suitably extended face for mounting a compound rotorassembly consisting of lower and upper porous granular surfacedprocessing elements 144 and 146 respectively. Lower element 144 isbonded to an annular driving and mounting member 148 suitably recessedt-o fit over a flywheel securing nut 150, which driving and mountingmember is driven by flywheel 140 by its interengagement therewiththrough suit ably positioned drive dowel pins 152.

The driving and mounting member also supports and drives a mounting andbonding member 154- to which upper element 146 is bonded and secured andreenforced by means of reenforcing pins 156.

Upper element 146 and its mounting and bonding member 154 are clamped toeach other as by a cap screw and washer 162, each provided with granularfacings.

Granular-surfaced stators 1'72, 174 and 17 6 are suitably secured to andheld in proper relationship by respective housing members 182, 184 and186 which are joined together through annular bands 138 secured theretowhereby a housing is provided.

Flywheel 149 is housed within a suitable separate housing having asuitable flange 392.

Housing member 132. is also provided with a suitable flange 1% andclearance is maintained between the uppermost surface of processing ring142 and the lowermost surface of stator 172 by means ofperipherally-located clamping and locking bolts or jack. screws 198 andsafety limit socket head screws 2593, the details of which are shown inFIG. 3. Said bolts 198 each allow a shoulder at 260 which. unisonlysupport the entire stator housing assembly, they being arranged insuitable number, as for example four arranged at 90 as to each other.

Jack screws 1% will have nuts 20.2 and 204 threaded on opposite endsthereof, and screws 208 will have a nut 226 threaded thereon forpurposes now to be described.

When lock nuts 202 and 264 are backed off on jack screws 1%, and locknut 206 and safety limit socket head set screws 20?; are also backedoff, the jack screws being equi-spaced as to each other carry the entireweight of the stator assemblies.

By applying a wrench to the square shank end of each of the jack screws198, stator 172 may be set just out of contact with ring 142 at allpoints.

At this setting, set screws 20% are brought into contact with flange 194and lock nuts 266 are tightened. Set in this position, the set screwsfunction to prevent any accidental positioning of the jaclcscrews whichwould allow the granular surfaces of ring 142 and stator 172 to come incontact with each other.

Jack screws 198 may additionally serve as a means to vary the clearancebetween ring 142 and stator 172 to a wider opening as by turning thejack screws into flange 192 with lock nuts 202 and 204, being backedoff, and when the desired setting has been attained, lock nuts 202 and204 are then tightened.

The flow volume at the refiner discharge, to be defined, is determinedto a large extent by the amount of clearance between processing ring 142and stator 172 and according on the type of contouring provided at theconfronting surfaces thereof.

A compressible gasket 210 interposed between flanges 192 and 194compensates for any variation in the clearances between flanges 192 and194 due to adjustments of clearances at ring 142 and stator 172.

The means for adjusting the opposed surface clearances is forconvenience only, substitute means being equally employable, and isshown here merely to dramatize the fact that the precise rotor andstator arrange- 13 ment shown, as similarly shown in my Patent No.3,058,- 678, functions in manner such that changes in clearances are notnecessarily required in obtaining varying degrees of fiber refinement orin changing from no-load to fullload operation, a feature not within thescope of and capability of conventional apparatus.

Fresh refiner feed material, delivered by blending unit 52 throughblending flow conduit 54 and blending feed conduit 62, enters anautomatic valve chamber 226 enclosing a floating valve 222 consisting ofa suitably tapered ring attached to and located on a floating valve tube224 carried in adjustable position by a supporting lever 226 and counterbalanced by means of a counter weight 228 On the free end of thesupporting lever, the other end thereof being forked to support thevalve tube through means of pivot pins (not shown) suitably attached toa floating tube collar 230. Supporting lever 226 is in turn supported bya fulcrum pin 232 and a fulcrum bracket 234.

The upper end of an inlet valve tube 236 serves as a stock inlet valveseat and is fixedly secured to a refiner inlet cover 238. A cone ring240 forms the bottom of valve chamber 220 for facilitating theself-cleaning thereof.

The top of valve chamber 220 is sealed off with a flexible diaphragm 244secured to floating valve 222 by suitable clamp rings 246, and to thevalve chamber housing by other clamp rings 250 wherefor the valvechamber is enabled to serve as a suitable fluid tight enclosure forreceiving paper stock feed supply through blending feed conduit 62 toassist in the regulation of the feed supply to refiner 60, and in theallowance of any surplus feed to return to reservoir 56 or topreconditioner 6 via return conduit 64, as same may be directed.

In FIG. 1, return conduit 64 is shown as being directed to reservoir 51and in FIG. 2, it is shown as being directed to preconditioner 6.

To the lower end of valve tube 224, a funnel 252 is fixedly secured byany conventional means such as a trio of triangularly disposed gussetts254.

A recycle outlet 256 directs stock to be recycled through a conduit 258in which a recycle regulating valve 260 is disposed and having are-entry tube 262 fitted to its outboard terminal for the conduct of therecycled stock through the valve means and returnably into the refinerinterior, said reentry tube fulfilling the additional service of guidingvalve tube 224.

Refiner 60 is of the impact type in the sence that a large portion ofthe fiber development to accepted stock condition is due to the highimpact resultant from the acceleration of the water borne stock to ahigh velocity as induced by the rotating components and an abruptdeceleration as induced by the stationary components, effects highlyintensified due to the nature of the contouring employed in the granularsurfaces of the said components.

As Water borne stock is delivered to valve chamber 220, it is free toflow directly through valve 222 and valve tube 236, and through theopening in the bottom of funnel 252 to the center of the upper element146 (which in normal operation, by virtue of provided deep V cutsaccelerates the stock to a high velocity with a minimum of surfacetravel) and is impinged against stators 174 and 176 (which are contouredfor maximum deceleration with a minimum of surface travel), with theadvantageous result that the major portion of stock flow expelled byupper element 146 piles up along the inner surface of stator 176 beforelosing its kinetic energy.

As the volume of water borne stock accumulates against the inner wall ofstator 176, a portion thereof commences a spillage over the funnel topedge so as to flow down the funnel interior to the center of upper ement146.

counterweight 228 is adjustably movable toward or away from fulcrum pin232 so as to increase or decrease the volume of water borne stock beingaccelerated and decelerated within an impact chamber 264 above upperelement 146, and if desired, the counterweight may be motorized to allowa push button control. Likewise it may also be made automaticallyadjustable by the employment of a reversible type of motorizedarrangement suitably connected with an appropriate ammeter of thecontact type on the circuit of motor 136, so that when said motor drawscurrent in excess of a predetermined value, counterweight 228 will beactuated toward fulcrum pin 232 sufficiently to cause a furtherrestricted rate of flow into the refining apparatus.

The granular-surfaced processing elements arrangement and the method ofcontouring, as taught in my Patent No. 3,058,678, is exploited herein tothe fullest in order to permit a large degree of fiber development abovethe radial contoured face of upper element 146 achievable because of thevery rapid acceleration and deceleration over this type of granularsurfaces.

The upper radial face of upper element 14-6, being contoured, as forexample to allow six deeply cut Vs, accelerates a large volume of waterborne stock against the tapered decelerating Vs in stators 174 and 176so as to divert a larger portion of stock, accelerated by upper element146, upwardly for a continuously repetition of this acceleratingdecelerating action with velocities that cause high impact.

A portion of the fiow discharge past upper element 1&6 finds its waydownwardly through the annular gap between rotor section 146 and stator174 due to the perimeter face of rotor section 146 being contoured so asto induce a downward flow.

The perimetrical face of the lower element 144 is preferentiallycontoured to retard flow (assuming that the rotation is of the usualcounter clockwise direction), wherefor it follows that, due to theopposed flow influences of the two rotor sections, a pressurizedcondition is set up within the stock confined between the rotating andstationary granular surfaced elements, all so as to cause a severefiber-against-fiber action within the annular gap formed by the rotorand stator sections.

The extent of the pressurizing effect within the annular gap may beregulated by valve 260 and the flow of stock initiated by pressurizationinduced within the annular gap and regulated by the valve will be suchas to cause a high velocity jet of stock to be returned to and impingedagainst the center of top rotor section 146 by way of conduit 258 andtube 262 in a continuous flow, thereby subjecting a portion of stockflow from the annular space between the rotor and stator to a re-entryto the impact chamber of the refiner for further fiber development.

With excessive volume within impact chamber 264-, high velocities ceaseto be developed with a consequent loss of impact, and power is increasedin the form of fluid resistance and fluid breaking effects which are notconducive to economy under excessive flow cross section dimensions.

For such reasons, a suitable flow, of the order of a film of moderatethickness, is observed to be more effective wherewith every fiber withinthe flow stream is exposed and subjected to the effectiveness of thefiber developing characteristics of the granular-surfaced elements.

It is for this reason that the automatic flow control, hereincomprehended, is essential in the obtaining of ultimate effectivenessvia maximum fiber development with a minimum energy input in an impacttype of apparatus.

With a reasonably close clearance between processing ring 142 and thelowermost face of stator 172 under conditions of some static andhydraulic head on the refiner discharge, a reasonably constant flow ismaintained for a particular speed with which the refiner may be driven,with an escapement means being provided such as through the recyclingmeans.

Assuming motor to be of a constant speed type, the

discharge rate will be reasonably constant for a given setting at thispoint, with any excess flow being shunted through the recycling means.

With further reference now to FIG. 1 again, with the refiner dischargeunder some hydraulic head, a constant rolling film action is thusassured within a chamber, and as the stock discharged from the refineris elevated some what while it is being directed via conduit 267 intothe bottom of flow box 268, it flows by gravity therefrom through anoverfiow pipe 279.

Flow box 258 will be proportioned for and fitted with an impeller 272driven by a suitable low voltage sensing motor 274, the current forwhich is fed through a controller 276 via lead line 277.

Any appreciable change in stock viscosity within fiow box 263 will causea change in amperage drawn by motor 274.

With suitable amperage sensing devices incorporated within controller276 and suitably connected to valve 2% as by lead lne 279, valve 26% maybe caused to open or 4 the action of valve 269 as controlled by theaforesaid controller mechanism and as initiated by the variations instock viscosity when and as detected by motor 274.

Laboratory analyses of samples taken from trial runs of paper stockprocessed according hereto have disclosed that Mullen values areextremely sensitive to the high impact feature allowed herewith. Impactbeing the result of velocity, the Mullen values or" accepted stock varywith the velocities resulting from the attained rotative speeds of therefiner. It has also been determined that other fiber developmentproperties such as tear, tensile and fiber length ratios are not sosensitive to the effects of such high impact and that a reduction in thedriven rotative speeds of the refiner has only slight effects on theaccepted stock qualities other than Mullen which has proven to bedeveloped in a definite ratio with the stool; velocities resulting fromthese rotative speeds. For instance, if the refiner speed is reduced by33%, say from 1800 rpm. to 1200 r.p.m., the Mullen value of the acceptedstock is accordingly reduced 33%, while concomitantly the other fibercharacteristics will not have been correspondingly effected.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 4, showing another arrangement ofstructures incorporating one or more auxiliary devices as componentparts of a modified integrated system of fiber development designed tomeet predetermined standards via an automatically controlled continuousflow non retention system which utilizes the aforedescribed phenomenon.

Parts which correspond with the parts shown and described in connectionwith FIG. 1 are given identical numbers and will not be hereinredescribcd for purposes of brevity.

I have determined that the refining of paper stocks to a specified givenstandard of accepted stock condition can be accomplished within refiner6d at considerably reduced speeds with the required Mullen value beingincreased to a specified rating by having the stock, passing through acontrol valve 66 in conduit 62 interconnected with conduit 54, feedinitially into a small diameter rotor, variable speed, high volume typeof processing unit see which in turn feeds refiner 60 via conduit 362,in which case, the speed of a motor 304 driving the processing unit isvaried by a speed regulating means 366 reactive to amplified signalsemitted by controller 276 responsive to motor 274 so as to vary thespeed of motor 304, that is to effect a its it? decrease of its speed ona lighter viscosity of stool; in flow box 268, and to effect an increaseof its speed on a heavier viscosity of stock therein.

If desired, the operator may open switch 308 and control the speed ofmotor 394 from visual signals of torque values indicated by motor 274 orenergy consumption values drawn by this motor, which values will vary inaccordance with the viscosity and consequently Mullen values at aconstant density.

By processing stock to accepted stock condition with a slow speedprocess or with the exception of Mullen and boosting the Mullen valuewithin a small diameter high flow variable speed processing unit such as300, less power is consumed due to the relative small rotor diametersize for the equivalent velocity-impact treatment and the increasedpasses through unit 300 due to the higher fiow rate of feed recyclesthrough conduits 62 and 302 as may be required to boost the Mullenvalues to a desired standard.

For extremely hard-to-process fibers, any desired number of suchprocessing elements, similar to that represented by 308, may be arrangedin series between blending unit 52 and unit 3% for any particulardesired accepted stock condition at flow box 268.

The speed of preconditioner 6 may be controlled by either controller 68or controller 276, as desired, through a 3-way switch for effecting amodulating motorized rhcostat in series with a vari-speed motor and itsenergy supply which may be of DC current or other suitable arrangement.

Viscosity sensing motor 274 may be of the torque type operating atconstant speed. Since the stock. density is constant, any variation instock viscosity will efiect the resistance of impeller 272 causing achange in torque at motor 274 and its current consumption for a uniformspeed, both effects being employed to initiate the impulse signalsemanating from controller 276.

While customarily, in conventional practice, stocks are processed to agiven freeness value, stock freeness is not necessarily a reliable ortrue index of fiber development so far as Mullen is concerned whereasviscosity values bear a more consistant relationship to Mullen values.Various degrees of freeness may be obtained for a given Mullen value andrelative high freeness may be consistantly obtained for a given Mullenover that made possible by conventional means. Stock freeness maytherefore be considered as an easily controllable variable for a givenfixed Mullen value, obtainable by the mode of processing and refiningwhich may permit increased paper making machine speeds over thatpossible with conventional stock processing methods.

Additionally, it should be stressed that where numerous types of fibersmake up a given furnish, the blending may be handled in various ways.Each type of fiber material may be refined to its particular acceptedstock condition separately and then the various accepted stocks may beblended by a separate blending system of hatching the proper portions ofthe accepted stocks from the respective stock chests.

Still further, comment should be made that Whereas blending unit 52 andrefiner 60 are represented as having rotor perimeters and stator boresdisposed in parallelism with the respective shaft axis, neither item isto be considered as being limited to such a parallel arrangement. Too,blending unit 52 may be equipped with a rotor having tapered perimetralWall and stators having tapered inner walls, in which case ampleclearance should be provided between the top face of the rotor and thelower face of the stator so as to provide for adjustable annularclearances between rotor perimeter and stator inner surface. Likewise,refiner 60 may be fitted with tapered perimeter rotor granular surfacedmembers and tapered bore stators in which case ample clearances areprovided between the flywheel and the lower stator. Also, the stator ofthe refiner need not necessarily be of the multiple piece type,

but may be of a uniform taper, or if of the multiple piece type, may beof a stepped taper type with tapered rotors to provide for extremelyclose clearance adjustments.

The method of securing the single or multiple sectional type statorsneed not be confined to the rigidly bonded in housing casing methodshown as used in either the blending unit or the refiner, but may be ofthe readily-demountable type allowing for easy and rapid change andrenewal, by having the stator of thinner wall construction as to permitencasement and bonding within a plain suitable steel band, insertablewithin the permanent outer housing, centered and secured thereto by anynumber of adequate socket head set screws properly located in apermanent outer housing.

While Mullen values have been found to be effective and respond toimpact against granular surfaces and the velocities employed, theapparatus is not necessarily confined Wholly to such techniques of fiberdevelopment but the various available physical modes of treating fibersmay be rearranged, altered and combined as to obtain various degrees ofeffectiveness, granular surfaces depending on the mode of application.

The precise arrangement of the granular surfaced processing elements, asillustrated and defined in connection with blending unit 52 and refiner60, need not be slavishly followed.

For instance, an alternative arrangement found to be particularlyeffective in the reduction of saturated fibrous materials to separationto an individualized fibrous state or condition, without suffering anycutting action or other detrimental effects in the fiber separation andblending operation, more particularly within a belnding unit 52' such asshown in FIG. and within a blending unit 52" such as shown in FIG. 6.

In each arrangement, the fiber slurry is caused to pass through one ormore, preferably two, abrupt and successive changes in fiow direction ofa full 90, or nearly 90 angle, within the confines of a single pair ofrotor and stator opposed processing elements, such as the stepped upperworking face of the rotor 86' and the complementally stepped lowerworking face of the upper rotor 120', as shown in FIG. 5, so that theflow of fibrous material is caused to enter in an, axiswise, downwardlyflowing direction, only to be abruptly caused to be changed to flow in aradial direction, then again to be caused to be abruptly changed to flowin an axiswise, or nearly axis wise, direction within the confines of asingle pair of opposed processing surfaces, or such as the doublestepped upper working face of the rotor 86" and the complementallydouble stepped lower working face of the upper rotor 120", as shown inFIG. 6, so that the flow of fiberous material is caused to enter in an,axiswise, downwardly flowing direction, only to be abruptly caused to bechanged to fiow in a radial direction, then again to be caused to beabruptly changed to flow in an axiswise direction, and then again to becaused to be abruptly changed to fiow in a radial direction, followingby still another abrupt change to be caused to fiow still again in anaxiswise direction.

These abrupt changes in flow direction within the confines of a singlepass between any givn pair of opposed, granular-surfaced processingelements having suitable clearances therebetween allow phenomenal fiberseparation effectiveness and fiber development capacities without anysuffering of cutting or other detrimental effects, a feature notpossible of attainment by any other means.

Because of these effects, it has been found of paramount importance toobtain the maximum angularity of change up to 90 in flow directionwithin a single pair of opposed granular surfaces in a continuousunbroken flow action, with means permittin adjustable clearances,preferably at a single pair of opposed surfaces to satisfy the dictatesof ease of adjustment and practicality, wherewith may be eifectuatedchanges in either one or both of the axis and radial flow clearances viaa single unitary adjustment.

Where such pairs of abrupt, right angle, or nearly right angle, stockfiow directional changes are so provided over granular surfaces, widerclearances are then allowed to be maintained between the granularelement surfaces of the flywheel processing ring and the lower or bottomface of the lower stator with the advantage of a saving in energy inputconsumption, more particularly when the flywheel chamber is lined with agranular surface against which the flywheel discharge may be impingedwith greater freedom and higher velocity and with less energy input dueto the aforesaid less restricted clearance.

While my Patent, No. 2,936,128 teaches the advanages in refining by suchstepped-in-fiow changes, the effects obtained with such stepped-inarrangement causes a restriction in the flow that gives compressiveeffects on the fibers with a consequent more intensivefiber-against-fiber friction effect which, with the porous granularstructure used, encourages a liquid short circuiting desirable in therefining phase for fiber development of Mullen, tensile and tear values,whereas, in the fiber separation phase, herein of paramount concern, andwhen employing a stepped-out effect relative to directional flow, has anexpanding effect, that is directly opposite and an improvement over thateffect obtained in my Patent No. 3,058,678, so far as fiber separationeffect is concerned.

The expanding effect as used in the separation phase is obtained in thestepped-out flow directional change by bringing about a fiber to liquidtransfer suspensionwise relationship, due to the difference in specificgravity of the vehicle liquid to that of the fiber, in which case theliquid separates fro-m the fibers to hydraulically cushion theirimpingement over the granular surfaces in the abrupt change in flowdirection with a fiber expanding effect with nil cutting actionaugmented by the vehicle reiniection taking place at each stepped-outchange in fiow direction.

While the integrated automatically controlled stock processing systemhas been described as converting dry rain stock aggregate to an acceptedstock condition in a continuous flow, the methods and apparatus are notnecessarily confined to the processing of dry aggregate, but may beadaptable for the handling of any moist products such as rag drainerstocks and other types of stocks, in wet or dry condition.

I claim:

1. An automated method of preparing paper stock comprising:

(A) the steps in a preconditioning phase,

(1) of controlling the input fiow to a preconditioner ofpredetermined-quantity charges of unrefined bulk fibrous material and ofliquid by measuring flow of the latter for effecting a flow variance ofthe former according to a predetermined fiber-to-liquid ratio, and

(2) of reducing the so-proportioned fiber-to-liquid mass to acontinuously-flowing slurry of a selected density value,

(B) simultaneously with the steps in a blending phase,

(1) of charging the so-reduced slurry into a saturating reservoir of ablender with the reservoir volume serving as the determinant of theinput rates of fiow of the charges of unrefined bulk fibrous materialand of liquid to the preconditioning phase,

(2) of further individualizing the fibers of the soreduced slurry into acontinuously-flowing blended slurry, and

(3) of delivering a continuous flow of the soblended slurry returnablyto the preconditioner while drawing off a portion thereof for deliveryto and according to the feed demand of the refining means of the system,

19 (C) and simultaneously with the steps in a refining phase,

(1) of flowing the so-blended slurry through the refining means forachieving a uniform accepted stock condition of a predeterminedselective viscosity value by automatically varying the refiner inletfeed fiow rate for etfecting variations in the rate of retention withinthe refining means according to the viscosity value variation at thedischarge of the refining means While maintaining a constant energyinput rate of a predeter mined value at the refining means,

(2) of automatically varying the re-entry flow of refiner bled stock atmodulated corrective rates responsive to the viscosity value variationat the discharge of the refining means, and

(3) cooperantly automatically correcting viscosity value variation atthe discharge by varying the refining means rotor speed.

2. An automated method of preparing paper stock comprising the steps:

(A) in a preconditioning phase,

(1) of controlling the input fiow of predeterminedquantity charges ofunrefined bulk fibrous ma terial and the simultaneous input flow ofpredetermined-quantity charges of liquid by measured flow of the latterfor eiiecting a flow variance of the former for maintenance of apredetermined fiberto-liquid ratio, and

(2) of reducing the so-proportioned fiber-to-liquid mass to acontinuously-flowing stock slurry of a selected density value reflectiveof the measuring assuring the fiberto-liquid ratio,

(B) in a blending phase,

(1) of charging the so-reduced stock slurry into a reservoir with thevolume within the reservoir serving as the determinant of the inputrates of flow of the charges of bulk fibrous material and of the chargesof liquid to the preconditioning phase,

(2) of simultaneousiy further individualizing the fibers of theso-reduced stock slurry into a continuously-flowing blended slurry, and

(3) of directing a portion of the soblended slurry to and according tothe feed demand of the system refining means to which the portion of theso-blended slurry is to be delivered and of directing the balance of theso-blended slurry returnably to the reducing unit of the preconditionerphase for automatically maintaining a continuous flow proportioned tothe feed demand of the refining means, and

(C) in a refining phase,

( 1) of refining the portion of the so-blended slurry to an accepteduniform stock condition with a predetermined selective viscosity valueat the rate controlled by and responsive to the demand of the system towhich the portion of the soblended slurry is delivered, and

(2) of simultaneously directing a portion of the so-refined stock to therefiner outflow while directing a portion of the partially-refined stockreturnably to the refiner according to the viscosity sensing means withincreases in the return of the refiner-returned-to-the-refiner stockbeing reflected in decreases in the blender-torefiner flow and withdecreases in the refinerreturned-to-the-refiner flow being reflected inincreases in the blender-to-refiner flow.

3. An automated method of preparing paper stock comprising the steps:

(A) in a preconditioning phase,

(1) of controlling the input flow of predeterminedquantity charges ofunrefined bulk fibrous material and the simultaneous input flow ofpredetermined-quantity charges of liquid by the metering of the flow ofthe latter for effecting a flow variance of the former to realize andmaintain a predetermined fiber-to liquid ratio, and

(2) of reducing the so-proportioned fiber-to-liquid mass to acontinuously-flowing stock slurry of a selected density value reflectiveof the initial fiber-to-liquid ratio metering,

(B) in a blending phase,

(1) of charging the so-reduced stock slurry into a reservoir with thevolume within the reservoir serving as the determinant of the input rateof flow of the charges of bulk fibrous material and of the liquid to thepreconditioning phase,

(2) of simultaneously further individualizing the fibers of theso-reduced stock. slurry into a continuously-flowing blended slurry, and

(3) of directing a portion of the so-blended slurry to and according tothe feed demand of a refining means of the system to which the portionof the so-blended slurry is to be delivered and of directing the balanceof the so-blended slurry returnably to the reducing unit of thepreconditioner phase for automatically maintaining a continuous flowproportioned to the feed demand of the refining means.

4. An automated method of preparing paper stock in a preconditioningphase comprising the steps,

controlling the input flow of predeterminedquantity charges of unrefinedbulk fibrous material and the simultaneous input flow ofpredetermined-quantity charges of liquid by the metering of the flow ofthe latter for effecting a fiow variance of the former to realize andmaintain a predetermined fiber-to-liquid ratio,

and reducing the so-proportioned fiber-to-liquid mass to acontinuously-flowing stock slurry of a selected density value reflectiveof the intial fiber-to-liquid ratio metering and at a rate responsive tothe demand of the system to which the so-reduced stock slurry is to bedelivered.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,145,935 8/1964 Wilson 24l-34 XANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT C. RIORDON, Examiner.

H. F. PEPPER, JR., Assistant Examiner.

4. AN AUTOMATED METHOD OF PREPARING PAPER STOCK IN A PRECONDITIONINGPHASE COMPRISING THE STEPS, CONTROLLING THE INPUT FLOW OFPREDETERMINED-QUANTITY CHARGES OF UNREFINED BULK FIBROUS MATERIAL ANDTHE SIMULTANEOUS INPUT FLOW OF PREDETERMINED-QUANTITY CHARGES OF LIQUIDBY THE METERING OF THE FLOW OF THE LATTER FOR EFFECTING A FLOW VARIANCEOF THE FORMER TO REALIZE AND MAINTAIN A PREDETERMINED FIBER-TO-LIQUIDRATIO, AND REDUCING THE SO-PROPORTIONED FIBER-TO-LIQUID MASS TO ACONTINUOUSLY-FLOWING STOCK SLURRY OF A SELECTED DENSITY VALUE REFLECTIVEOF THE INTIAL FIBER-TO-LIQUID RATIO METERING AND AT A RATE RESPONSIVE TOTHE DEMAND OF THE SYSTEM TO WHICH THE SO-REDUCED STOCK SLURRY IS TO BEDELIVERED.